Characterization of a novel calcium-binding 90-kDa glycoprotein (BM-90) shared by basement membranes and serum.

The protein BM-90 was solubilized from the mouse Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm tumor with neutral buffers in molar yields lower (15-30%) than found for other basement membrane proteins (e.g. laminin, BM-40). The purified protein was shown to be rich in cysteine (5 mol%) and to change in SDS electrophoresis from an 84-kDa position to a 95-kDa one upon reduction. BM-90 was also shown to be a calcium-binding protein. The N-terminal sequence of BM-90, as well as those of several internal peptides, showed no identity with any known protein sequences, indicating that it is a new protein. Specific radioimmunoassays showed no or only minor cross-reactions with other known basement membrane proteins. Immunological assays demonstrated BM-90 to be present in neutral salt extracts from mouse heart and kidney, in serum (20-40 micrograms/ml) and in the medium of various cultured cells (0.1-1 microgram/ml). The protein in these samples was identical in size to BM-90 purified from the tumor, indicating that negligible degradation occurs during purification. An extracellular matrix localization of BM-90 was shown by immunofluorescence for Reichert's membrane, lens capsules and other basement membranes. Thus, BM-90 appears to be a novel basement membrane protein whose functions remain to be studied.